Topiary in the Potager at Helmingham Hall

August 20, 2019

It’s been a while since I’ve shared some topiary, so when I stumbled across these photos from our visit to Helmingham Hall back in 2017, I couldn’t wait to share them. I think my favourite is the sombrero, mainly because, why wouldn’t you love a topiary mexican hat? The Japanese anemones dancing against the brick wall help too.

And I suspect you’re already realising this isn’t just any topiary. With Helmingham in the background, with its chimneys-to-die-for, I present a snowman. Surrounded by acorns. Just imagine the work keeping this garden tidy and in shape.

The topiary is part of the Potager, which is always an area of a garden I’ll head to and one which MOH struggles to get me out of. I think here he was just resigned to his fate. I mean, a walled potager and topiary, he stood no chance!

The frog, or is it a prince above, is why there was some hesitation about claiming the sombrero as my favourite. There’s so much work in all of these, and for them to be instantly recognisable as the shapes they were intended, is a real skill. The frog, as you can see is starting to grow, and with so many sculptures in the garden, I’m sure whoever manages these must walk around the garden with their topiary tools in their pockets, at the very least.

Which is your favourite?

Reflecting on my week #96

August 19, 2019

Last week was a week for deliveries, and a week where I missed all of the deliveries for our recent purchases. Our new doormats arrived and were taken in by our neighbour, the bin arrived - more on that in a moment - and that was taken in by another neighbour, after a call from the delivery driver. He was perplexed as I was out, at work, it was Thursday and so was my neighbour. Outrageous, hey? But the ground floor flat saved the day by opening the door. Afterwards my colleagues were amused that the delivery driver knows the neighbour’s name, but then again, he does seem him, more than me! Then Friday another delivery, some shoes this time, and my neighbour was in. I am very lucky, he often works from home, so I hope when he says he doesn’t mind, he really doesn’t mind.

The mats came from Garden Trading, and I’d been eyeing them up for a while. I wanted a mat, that was narrow but long, and have struggled to find something that works. In the end I opted for two of these small star mats, and my plan is to gaffer tape them together (on the rubber back, obviously) so that they don’t become a slippy, slidey nightmare.

I was keen to have a mat (or mats) that were the width of one of our bi-fold doors, so that when we’re in and out there’s more mat to aim for. And less detritus brought inside. But I found that mats that were wide, were also deeper than I wanted. I found that I could get custom made mats, but they were just plain, and as you can see my penchant appears to be for patterned coir mats. Actually the made to measure, plain version will be useful for our porch, which is actually our smallest room in size and currently is ‘carpeted’ in coir, which could do with a bit of a refresh. It’s not square of course, so we’ll need to cut it to size, but I’m sure it’s do-able…

The bin, a new kitchen bin, arrived via a short sojourn in the ground floor flat, and again it’s another one we’ve been thinking about for a while. We saw it at Grand Designs in May, and now it’s here. It’s out of the box, but doesn’t have the batteries in yet - it’s one of those that you wave at to open, rather than the manual foot operated type. But six AA batteries, that’s a lot, they’d better last.

Both MOH and I were a bit under the weather last week, with different symptoms. Not bad enough to not go to work, but just lethargic enough that heading straight to bed for a snooze after a busy day was called for. It’s unusual for one of us to do that, let alone both of us on the same night. We’ve both recovered from/are recovering from our symptoms, but it’s a good reminder that we need to listen to our bodies more. I just wish mine wouldn’t feel the urge quite so often to talk to me at around 3:13am (and yes, I know that’s a precise time. I’ll happily not see it for a while)

we're surrounded by numbers we just need to look

I had planned to stay on track with this year’s #AugustBreak2019 over on my Instagram stories, but what with everything I’ve missed days here and there, and then been uninspired for other days. One of the prompts I did participate in though was numbers, which had me stumped for a while. Then I looked, and really saw, and even in the kitchen I was surrounded by them. And the hob made for an interesting picture too. Mindfulness, it seems to be working.

The rest of the week has been pretty mundane; two new pairs of the comfortable walking sandals arrived, and so I’ve bought in bulk (I really have, one pair the same as the ones I’ve been living in this summer, and another in a fuchsia pink colour, which I didn’t even know was an option before) I’ve started, and almost finished a new book - Beneath the Surface by Fiona Neill - well I need to do something in those early mornings, and I have new hair. Most of Saturday morning was spent being bleached and dyed, then dyed again and now I have significantly less greys and my ‘natural’ pink and orange highlights are showing again. This time the rest of my hair went a deeper brown than before, possibly darker than I thought, but it looks good and I’m loving the gloss that my hair has right now, as well as the unusual colour choice, for segments a layer or two down.

And I’ve finally finished tying in and untangling the plants just along from the patio. I’d paused work here as I wasn’t convinced the honeysuckle was still alive, but I’m happy to have been proved wrong. I’ve a feeling next year in the garden is going to be just a little more fragrant!

Post Comment Love 16 - 18 August

August 16, 2019

Hello there and welcome to this week’s #PoCoLo a friendly linky where you can link any post published in the last week. Both Morgan and I know you’ll find some great posts to read, and maybe some new-to-you blogs too, so do pop over and visit some of the posts linked and share some of that love.

How’s your week been?

Both MOH and I have been a bit under the weather with different symptoms, and busy at work, which isn’t a great combination. It’s unusual for one of us to come home from work and head straight to bed, let alone both of us. However we’re on the up as both of us were feeling better yesterday evening. For me it’s not come at a great time as working at a university, it’s been a big week. MOH is working this weekend too, and is expecting it to be a long one, so I’ll be doing whatever I want, the best sort of day!

I’ve just realised writing this post that neither of us have watered the tomatoes - in the greenhouse - this week, and so they might be a bit thirsty, despite the rain. That’s a job for before work then, as long as it’s not raining.

There haven’t been many photos either, so this is one from our trip to Portugal, taken at the Belem Tower looking out. The contrast works for me, and it was such a great place - look out for a post on that, just as soon as I get the photos edited…

Blogger Showcase

Our list remains empty, so there’s no Blogger Showcase feature this week. I know it’s August and things are more relaxed with school holidays, but I’m starting to wonder if we should rethink this feature, so let me know if you’ve any ideas or thoughts, it’d be great to hear them.

And of course if you’re interested in being featured then take a look at my Post Comment Love page and get in touch.